This monograph reports on research carried out with 25 young Latino interpreters (high school students) who participated in a simulated interpretation task, part of a larger project that examined gifts and talents not generally identified, fostered in instruction, or positively evaluated in formal education. These bilingual adolescents had been selected from among their siblings to serve as interpreters for their families. The study first attempted to develop an instrument to identify the tacit knowledge of young interpreters, then went on to develop a role play situation to allow the observation of actual interpreting performance. The simulation involved a situation in which a mother, whose daughter had been accused of stealing, had been asked to meet with the principal. The script deliberately included a number of face threatening acts that tested students abilities to broker a tense and emotional exchange. Analysis revealed that the youngsters were able to demonstrate their ability to carry out the very complex task of interpreting under particularly stressful conditions. The study concluded that young interpreters exhibit at least some of the characteristics generally measured in prospective professional interpreters such as memory, analytical ability, speed of comprehension and production, and stress tolerance. (Contains approximately 280 references.) (DB)

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